Power supply housing for network interface device

ABSTRACT

The disclosure is directed to an active network interface device (NID) having a battery module enclosure that is mountable between a NID enclosure and a wall or surface at a subscriber premises. The battery module enclosure defines a compartment for receiving a battery module and a NID enclosure that serves to protect NID circuitry, network terminals, and subscriber terminals from environmental conditions and security threats. In some embodiments, the NID may be an ONT in a PON. The battery module may be installed within the compartment of the battery module enclosure to provide battery power to circuitry within the NID enclosure. The battery module enclosure may reside between the NID enclosure and an exterior wall of a subscriber premises so that the battery module enclosure is generally hidden from view by the NID enclosure.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/639,860, filed Dec. 28, 2004, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to networking and, more particularly, to a power supply for a network interface device (NID), such as an optical network terminal (ONT) in a passive optical network (PON).

BACKGROUND

A passive optical network (PON) can deliver voice, video and other data among multiple network nodes, using a common optical fiber link. Passive optical splitters and combiners enable multiple optical network terminals (ONTs) to share the optical fiber link. Each ONT terminates the optical fiber link for a residential or business subscriber, and is sometimes referred to as a subscriber premises node that delivers Fiber to the Premises (FTTP)-based services. An optical line terminal (OLT) transmits information downstream to the ONTs, and receives information transmitted upstream from the ONTs. Each ONT terminates the optical fiber link for a residential or business subscriber, and is sometimes referred to as a subscriber premises node.

An ONT in a PON functions as an active network interface device (NID). An active NID converts information received on a network signal carrier into services suitable for use by various subscriber devices, such as telephone, video and data services. For example, an active NID in a PON converts optical signals received from the network on an optical fiber to electrical signals for transmission to a subscriber device. In addition, the active NID converts information received from the subscriber devices into integrated data for transmission over a network signal carrier, such as an optical fiber.

Network equipment in a cable or hybrid network may be connected to power provided by a central office, which commonly utilizes battery and generator back-up power to maintain a continuous power supply. In contrast, an ONT in an all-fiber optical network is ordinarily powered locally at the subscriber premises. For this reason, an ONT often includes a battery to provide back up power during a power outage to maintain critical services. In particular, many FTTP service providers provide uninterruptible power source (UPS) units that perform AC-to-DC voltage conversion from line power within the subscriber premises, and include a battery for backup power.

A UPS unit may be located within or outside the subscriber's premises. Because battery performance and reliability are adversely affected by temperature extremes, a UPS unit may be located within the subscriber premises. However, when a UPS unit is mounted within the premises, the service provider must gain access to the premises in order to service the battery, which is generally inconvenient and time consuming. Physical access to the battery is important to avoid battery failure during an extended power outage. If battery power is not available, the ONT will lose power and be unable to provide critical voice service during a power failure.

A UPS unit may also be mounted outside the subscriber's premises so that UPS unit may be easily accessed. In this case, a UPS unit is typically mounted to an exterior wall and may be mounted near or far from the ONT. An ONT has an enclosure that serves to protect electronic circuitry and network terminals from environmental and security threats. If a service provider elects to mount a battery or UPS unit outside the subscriber premises, a separate enclosure is often used for battery installation to enhance battery ventilation and to minimize the size of the ONT. However, placement of either multiple enclosures or a very large ONT enclosure on the exterior of a house or office is aesthetically displeasing.

SUMMARY

In general, the invention is directed to an active network interface device (NID) having a battery module enclosure that is mountable between a NID enclosure and a wall or surface at a subscriber premises. The battery module enclosure defines a compartment for receiving a battery module and an NID enclosure that serves to protect NID circuitry, network terminals, and subscriber terminals from environmental conditions and security threats. In some embodiments, the NID may be an ONT in a PON. The battery module may be installed within the compartment of the battery module enclosure to provide battery power to circuitry within the NID enclosure. The battery module enclosure may reside between the NID enclosure and an exterior wall of a subscriber premises so that the battery module enclosure is generally hidden from view by the NID enclosure.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an active network interface device (NID) comprising a NID enclosure that encloses NID circuitry, and a battery module enclosure that defines a compartment that receives a battery module that provides backup power to the NID circuitry, wherein the NID is mountable to a surface of a subscriber premises such that the battery module enclosure is positioned between the NID enclosure and the surface.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method comprising mounting a battery module enclosure to a surface of a subscriber premises, the battery module enclosure defining a compartment that receives a battery module, and mounting an active network interface device (NID) enclosure over the battery module enclosure, such that the battery module enclosure is positioned between the surface of the subscriber premises and the NID enclosure, wherein the NID enclosure contains NID circuitry.

The invention may offer one or more advantages. As an example, the active NID provides a NID enclosure and a separate battery module enclosure that may be generally hidden from view by the NID enclosure. Specifically, the battery module enclosure is not mounted within the NID enclosure, but rather behind the access enclosure, i.e. between the NID enclosure and an exterior wall of a subscriber premises. Consequently, placement of either multiple enclosures or a very large active NID enclosure on the exterior wall of a house or office is not needed and the active NID enclosure is less visible. Moreover, by mounting the battery module enclosure behind the NID enclosure, the overall size of the active NID enclosure may be reduced thereby further reducing the visibility of the NID enclosure on the mounting surface of the subscriber premises.

Mounting the battery module enclosure behind the NID enclosure may also provide thermal dissipation advantages, either by increased ventilation or increased heat sinking of heat generated by the NID circuitry. Thermal heating advantages may be achieved by heating the battery module with heat dissipated by the NID circuitry. The heat generated by the NID circuitry may be helpful in maintaining the battery within a desired temperature range for better performance. Thus, the invention may increase the reliability of the battery while allowing service personnel to readily gain access to the battery module via the battery module enclosure when the battery needs to be replaced or serviced.

Additionally, the battery module enclosure may be fabricated separately or integrally with the NID enclosure, thereby allowing an installer to install the appropriate configuration on a selective basis. For example, when the battery module enclosure is fabricated separately from the NID enclosure and a battery is not desired, the NID enclosure can be mounted directly to an exterior wall of a subscriber premises. Alternatively, if a battery is desired, the battery module enclosure may be mounted to the subscriber premises followed by mounting the NID enclosure to the battery module enclosure. In embodiments in which the battery module enclosure and the NID enclosure are fabricated integrally, however, the battery module enclosure may be mounted to the subscriber premises because the NID enclosure is attached- to the battery module enclosure. However, the service provider still has the option to install a battery in the battery module enclosure. Consequently, the invention may provide improved flexibility and efficiency for mounting active NID enclosures of varying configurations and size.

The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a conceptual side view of an active network interface device (NID), having a NID enclosure and a battery module enclosure, mounted to a surface of a subscriber premises.

FIG. 1B is a conceptual side view of the active NID of FIG. 1A with the battery module housed within the battery module enclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating components of the NID enclosure and battery module enclosure of FIGS. 1A and 1B.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are top views of an active NID illustrating lateral placement of a battery module within a battery module enclosure.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are side perspective views illustrating insertion of a battery module in a battery module enclosure that defines a compartment to receive the battery module.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view illustrating an active NID having a battery module enclosure mounted on a surface of a subscriber premises behind a NID enclosure.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view illustrating an NID enclosure having various protective covers in combination with a battery module enclosure.

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view illustrating the active NID of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is another perspective view illustrating an alternative embodiment of the active NID of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, the invention is directed to an active network interface device (NID) having a battery module enclosure that is mountable between a NID enclosure and a wall or surface at a subscriber premises. The battery module enclosure defines a compartment for receiving a battery module. The NID enclosure serves to protect NID circuitry, network terminals, and subscriber terminals from environmental conditions and security threats. The battery module is installed within the compartment of the battery module enclosure to provide battery power to NID circuitry. Upon placement between the NID enclosure and a wall or surface of a subscriber premises, the battery module enclosure is generally hidden from view by the NID enclosure. The battery module may slide into the compartment of the battery module enclosure from the top, either side, or bottom of the battery module enclosure.

As an example, the NID may be an ONT in a PON. The ONT may conform to any of a variety of PON standards, such as the broadband PON (BPON) standard (ITU G.983) or the gigabit-capable PON (GPON) standard (ITU G.984), as well as future PON standards under development by the Full Service Access Network (FSAN) Group or other organizations. For purposes of illustration, the disclosure will refer to an ONT and ONT enclosure as examples of a NID and NID enclosure, respectively. However, the disclosure should not be considered limiting of the invention as broadly embodied herein, and may extend more generally to NIDs, including NIDs in networks other than PONs. Other examples of a NID, in different network types, include equipment including a cable modem or digital subscriber line (DSL) circuitry.

The battery module may include a battery, a battery charger to charge the battery, control circuitry to monitor the battery, and a connection terminal that interconnects with a reciprocal connection terminal associated with the battery module enclosure. The battery charger may receive alternating current (AC) line power directly from an ac line at the subscriber premises. Alternatively, the battery charger may receive AC power indirectly via interconnections with the NID enclosure, which may directly receive AC line power from the subscriber premises. In either case, the battery charger converts the AC power to direct current (DC) power to charge the battery. The battery module then is available to power the ONT circuitry within the NID enclosure via a connection terminal when line power is unavailable. In other embodiments, the battery charger may receive DC power from an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) or other offline AC-DC converter within the subscriber premises.

The ONT enclosure may comprise a typical or commonly used active network interface device (NID) enclosure. The ONT enclosure may include one or more covers that serve to protect ONT circuitry, network terminals, and subscriber terminals from environmental conditions and security threats. In one example, the battery module enclosure may be integrally formed with the ONT enclosure. In this case, an installation technician may mount the enclosure to a wall or other surface of a subscriber premises via fasteners attached to the battery module enclosure, the ONT enclosure, or both.

Alternatively, the battery module enclosure and the ONT enclosure may be separate modules that interface with each other. Consequently, the battery module enclosure may be optionally installed when an ONT enclosure is installed. For example, when a battery is desired, the battery module enclosure may be mounted to an exterior wall at the subscriber premises, followed by mounting the ONT enclosure to the battery module enclosure. The front side of the battery module enclosure and the back side of the ONT enclosure may include hardware that enable the enclosures to electrically interface with each other, such as wires or cables, or electrical connectors. The ONT enclosure and battery module enclosure may be separately mountable to the mounting surface, one in front of the other. When a battery is not desired, the installer may mount only the ONT enclosure to an exterior wall of the subscriber premises.

FIG. 1A is a side view of an active ONT 2. ONT 2 may be suitable for use in a passive optical network (PON) that carries voice, video, and data. ONT 2 will be described herein in the context of a PON. ONT 2 includes the combination of an ONT enclosure 14 and battery module enclosure 4. As shown in FIG. 1, ONT 2 includes a battery module enclosure 4 that defines a compartment 5 for receiving battery module 6. Battery module 6 may be installed in battery module enclosure 4 or, more specifically, the compartment 5 of battery module enclosure 4, to provide direct current (DC) power, e.g. back up battery power, to the circuitry (not shown) within ONT enclosure 14 during a power outage.

FIG. 1B is a side view of active ONT 2 with battery module 6 housed within compartment 5 of battery module enclosure 4. ONT enclosure 14 serves to protect ONT circuitry, network terminals, and subscriber terminals from environmental and security threats. In general, battery module enclosure 4 may be mounted to a surface 16 of a subscriber premises, such as an exterior wall, and positioned between surface 16 and ONT enclosure 14. In this manner, battery module enclosure 4 may be generally hidden from view by ONT enclosure 14.

Battery module enclosure 4 and ONT enclosure 14 may be separate modules that electrically interface with each other or, alternatively, are integrally formed as a single unit. In either case, battery module enclosure 4 and ONT enclosure 14 electrically interface with each other so that battery module 6, when installed, can provide dc power to the ONT circuitry (not shown) during a power outage to provide critical services, e.g., voice service. When battery module enclosure 4 and ONT enclosure 14 are separate modules and a battery is not desired, ONT enclosure 14 can be mounted directly to surface 16. In contrast, when a battery is desired, battery module enclosure 4 can be mounted to surface 16 first, followed by mounting ONT enclosure 14 to battery module enclosure 4 or directly to surface 16 so that battery module 4 is positioned between surface 16 and ONT enclosure 14.

As another example, when battery module enclosure 4 and ONT enclosure 14 are integrally formed with one another, the integral unit is mounted to surface 16. The service provider, however, still has the option to install battery module 6 in the battery module enclosure 4. Consequently, PON 2 provides improved flexibility and efficiency for mounting PON enclosures of varying configurations and size.

Notably, battery module 6 is mounted behind ONT enclosure 14, i.e., between ONT enclosure 14 and exterior wall 16. In this manner, battery module 6 and ONT enclosure 14 are both within the same general area, i.e., “footprint,” on the wall surface 16 of the subscriber premises. Consequently, battery module 6 is generally hidden from view by ONT enclosure 14. As a result, the size of ONT enclosure 14 and, thus, the overall size of active NID 2, is reduced, thereby further reducing the visibility of active NID 2, improving the aesthetic appearance of the exterior wall of the subscriber premises, and possibly conserving wall space for appliances associated with other services.

Mounting battery module enclosure 4 behind ONT enclosure 14 may provide thermal dissipation advantages, either by increased ventilation or increased heat sinking of heat generated by ONT circuitry (not shown) within ONT enclosure 14. Specifically, thermal heating advantages may be achieved by heating battery module 6 with the heat dissipated by ONT circuitry (not shown) while battery module enclosure 4 may provide enhanced battery ventilation. Since battery performance and reliability are adversely affected by temperature extremes, heat dissipated by ONT circuitry (not shown) may help heat battery module 6 in cold weather. In colder climates, to promote transfer of heat from the ONT circuitry to battery module enclosure 4, ONT enclosure 14 and battery module enclosure 4 may be mounted in close contact with one another and constructed of materials that permit desirable thermal transfer.

Alternatively, in other climates, battery module enclosure 4 may be constructed to promote enhanced ventilation to prevent battery module 6 from overheating. Thus, ONT enclosure 14 may increase the reliability of battery module 6. As a result, battery module 6 may provide performance similar to that of a battery module mounted within a subscriber premises, while allowing service personnel to readily gain access to battery module 6 via battery module enclosure 4 when battery module 6 needs to be replaced or serviced. This provides an advantage over placement of the battery within the subscriber premises, which may require scheduling of a service call with the subscriber in order for the technician to gain access to the battery module.

Battery module enclosure 4 may be mounted to an exterior wall of a subscriber premises using screws or other fasteners (not shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B) attached to battery module enclosure 4. The fasteners (not shown) may permit battery module enclosure 4 to be mounted to surface 16 at different vertical and horizontal positions, thereby allowing battery module enclosure 4 to be mounted more easily. As shown in FIG. 1A, battery module enclosure 4 may receive battery module 6 from the top. Alternatively, battery module enclosure 4 may be constructed to receive battery module 6 from the bottom or either side. Thus, battery module enclosure 4 is mounted in a manner that allows service personnel to readily access battery module 6 in order to service and maintain battery module 6.

As an example, battery module enclosure 4 may be shaped substantially as a rectangular prism and be substantially closed on five sides and at least partially open on a sixth side to permit battery module enclosure 4 to receive battery module 6. The sixth side may comprise an access door (not shown) that provides access to the compartment 5 of battery module enclosure 4 and serves to fully enclose battery module 6 after it has been fully inserted within battery module enclosure 4. The access door may rotate along a hinge to provide access to the compartment 5 defined by battery module enclosure 4, and may include a keyed lock or latch for closure.

Battery module enclosure 4 may be manufactured in different sizes designed to accommodate differently sized battery modules. For example, battery module enclosure 4 may be manufactured to accommodate a standard 7.2 Ampere-hour (Ah) battery. A standard 7.2 Ah battery may have dimensions of approximately 6 inches in width, 4 inches in height, and 2.5 inches in depth. In another example, battery module enclosure 4 may be manufactured to accommodate a low profile 7.2 Ah battery having dimensions of approximately 8 inches in width, 8 inches in height, and 1 inch in depth. Consequently, the size of battery module 4 may be adjusted based on the type of battery.

Battery module enclosure 4, battery module 6, or both, may include clips, screws, rails, or other hardware to guide and secure battery module 6 within the compartment of battery module enclosure 4. In addition, battery module 6 includes a connection terminal (not shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B) that is received by a reciprocal connection terminal (not shown) associated with battery module enclosure 4. The connection terminals described in this disclosure may be formed by reciprocal pin connectors, edge connectors, or the like. Alternatively, the connection terminals may be formed by interconnecting wires or cables. When housed within battery module enclosure 4, battery module 6 powers the ONT circuitry (not shown) within ONT enclosure 14 via the connection terminal.

Battery module 6 includes a battery 8 to provide DC power to ONT circuitry within ONT enclosure 14, a battery charger 10 to charge battery 8, and, optionally, control circuitry 12 to monitor the status of battery 8. Battery charger 10 may run off of AC line power or DC power generated by an offline converter that converts standard alternating current (AC) power to DC power. For example, a UPS or an offline converter may be located inside the subscriber premises. The DC power output by the offline converter may then be used by battery charger 10 to charge battery 8. Alternatively, battery charger 10 may include AC/DC conversion circuitry and receive AC line power either directly from subscriber premises line power or indirectly via electrical interconnection with ONT enclosure 14. Control circuitry 12 may provide reliable battery status reporting and, optionally, remote monitoring of battery module 6. For example, control circuitry 10 may monitor the status of battery 8 and transmit an alarm or status signal in response to detecting a change in the status of battery 6, or at periodic monitoring intervals.

In some embodiments, battery module 6 may comprise one or more slim profile batteries and a slim battery charger circuit board so that the compartment defined by battery module enclosure 4 can be made relatively thin. Accordingly, battery module enclosure 4 may be sized to accommodate slim profile batteries, e.g., less than approximately one inch (2.54 cm) in thickness. As a result, in some embodiments, battery module enclosure 4 may be almost unnoticeable from the front of ONT enclosure 14. However, as previously described, battery module 6 may comprise a standard 7.2 Ah battery or other battery having a thickness greater than approximately one inch. Thus, battery module enclosure 4 may be sized to accommodate battery module 6 regardless of the type of battery used.

ONT enclosure 14 may comprise a typical or commonly used active network interface device (NID) enclosure that houses ONT circuitry to convert information received on a network signal carrier into services suitable for use by various subscriber devices, such as telephone, video and data services. In particular, the ONT circuitry within ONT enclosure 14 converts optical signals received from a network via an optical fiber link to electrical signals for transmission to a subscriber device. In addition, the ONT circuitry converts information received from the subscriber devices into data for transmission over a network signal carrier, such as an optical fiber.

ONT enclosure 14 may include one or more covers (not shown) that serve to protect the ONT circuitry (not shown), network terminals (not shown), and subscriber terminals (not shown) from environmental conditions and security threats. The network terminals and subscriber terminals may take any form sufficient to provide optical or electrical interconnection between the network and ONT circuitry, in the case of network terminals, or interconnection between the ONT circuitry and subscriber devices, in the case of subscriber terminals. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the bottom surface of ONT enclosure 14 may be partially open to permit ingress of conduit 18 containing a network signal carrier, such as an optical fiber, coaxial cable, or telephone line, as well as a power cable. Conduit 18, or an additional conduit, may also provide AC or DC power to ONT enclosure 14 from an electrical conductor associated with the subscriber premises. Battery module enclosure 4 optionally may include a conduit 19 to receive AC or DC power from an electrical conductor associated with the subscriber premises. ONT enclosure 14 may include an inner cover (not shown) to shield ONT circuitry from electromagnetic interference (EMI) and an intermediate cover (not shown) that encloses the ONT circuitry and the inner cover as well as network connections to the PON.

The intermediate cover may not cover the subscriber terminals and may be accessible only by a service technician via a security latch. In this manner, the intermediate cover creates a demarcation point between network terminals accessible only by the service technician and subscriber terminals accessible by the subscriber. Furthermore, ONT enclosure 14 may include an outer cover (not shown) that encloses the ONT circuitry, the inner cover, the intermediate cover, the network terminals, and the subscriber terminals to provide protection from moisture, debris, solar loading, animals, and other adverse environmental conditions.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating components of the ONT enclosure 14 and battery module enclosure 4 of FIGS. 1A and 1B. In the example of FIG. 2, ONT enclosure 14 contains ONT circuitry 21 and AC/DC converter 23. AC/DC converter 23 receives AC line power 25 associated with the subscriber premises and generates DC power for ONT circuitry 21. Alternatively, instead of AC power, ONT enclosure 14 may receive DC power from an offline converter or UPS unit within or near the subscriber premises. In this case, AC/DC converter 23 may be omitted from ONT enclosure 14.

Battery module enclosure 4 encloses battery 6, which contains battery 8, battery charger 10 and control circuitry 12. In the example of FIG. 2, AC/DC converter 23 also provides DC power to battery charger 10, e.g., via an electrical interconnection between battery module enclosure 4 and ONT enclosure 14, such as reciprocal engagement of male and female connector terminals or simple wired connections made by a technician. Battery charger 10 applies charge current to battery 8 to maintain an appropriate charge level on the battery.

Battery 8 (or AC/DC converter 23) provides DC power to control circuitry 12, which may be configured to monitor the status of battery 8 and control battery charger 10. As an alternative, battery charger 10 may include an AC/DC converter 23 and receive AC line power 25 either directly from the subscriber premises or via ONT enclosure 14. As a further alternative, battery charger 10 may receive DC power from a DC line extending from an offline converter or UPS unit. Hence, one or both of ONT enclosure 14 and battery module enclosure 4 may receive AC line power, and include appropriate AC/DC conversion circuitry. Alternatively, one or both of ONT enclosure 14 and battery module enclosure 4 may receive DC power from an offline converter or UPS unit within or near the subscriber premises.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are top views of ONT 2 of FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrating lateral placement of a battery module 6 within a battery module enclosure 4. ONT 2 is constructed and functions in a manner similar to the example of FIGS. 1A and 1B. However, battery module enclosure 4 is configured with a side access opening or door to permit lateral placement of battery module 6 within the compartment 5 defined by battery module enclosure 4. Battery module 6 may be inserted into compartment 5 from the right side or left side of battery module enclosure 4, rather than from the top side or bottom side of the battery module enclosure.

The right and left sides of ONT 2 in FIGS. 3A and 3B, respectively, may comprise an access door (not shown) that provides access to the compartment 5 of battery module enclosure 4. The access door may rotate along a hinge to provide access to the compartment and fully enclose battery module 6 after it has been fully inserted within the battery module enclosure 4. Again, by housing battery module 6 within battery module enclosure 4, battery module 6 may provide similar performance as an external battery mounted within a subscriber premises while allowing service personnel to readily gain access to battery module 6 via battery module enclosure 4 when battery module 6 needs to be replaced or serviced.

As in the example of FIGS. 1A and 1B, battery module enclosure 4 is mounted to a surface 16 of a subscriber premises and resides between ONT enclosure 14 and surface 16 so that battery module 4 is generally hidden from view by ONT enclosure 14. Thus, as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the ONT 2 shown in FIG. 3A or FIG. 3B also enables an installer to install the appropriate configuration of battery 4 and ONT enclosure 14 on a selective basis, provides thermal dissipation advantages, provides improved flexibility and efficiency for mounting active NID enclosure of varying configurations and size, and has increased accessibility while being less visible. Other than lateral battery module placement versus vertical battery module placement, ONT 2 of FIGS. 3A and 3B may be substantially identical to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

FIG. 4A is a side perspective view illustrating the insertion of a battery module 6 in a battery module enclosure 4. FIG. 4B is a side perspective view of battery module 6 plugged into battery module enclosure 4. For ease of illustration, an ONT enclosure, such as ONT enclosure 14 of FIGS. 1A and 1B, is omitted from FIGS. 4A and 4B. However, battery module enclosure 6 interfaces or, alternatively, is integrally fabricated with ONT enclosure 14. As shown, battery module enclosure 4 may be shaped substantially as a rectangular prism which is substantially closed on five sides and includes an access door 46 as a sixth side. Access door 46 provides access to the compartment of battery module enclosure 44 and also serves to fully enclose battery module 6 after it has been fully inserted within battery module enclosure 44. Access door 46 may rotate along a hinge to provide access to the compartment defined by battery module enclosure 4. Battery module enclosure 4, battery module 6, or both, may include clips, screws, rails, or other hardware to guide and secure battery module 6 within the compartment 5 of battery module enclosure 4.

In general, battery module enclosure 4 is designed to receive battery module 6 which may include, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 3A, and 3B, a battery, a battery charger to charge the battery, control circuitry to monitor the battery. Battery module 6 also may include a connection terminal 42. A reciprocal connection terminal 48 may be formed at one end of battery module enclosure 4 and is coupled to ONT circuitry housed within an ONT enclosure (not shown), e.g., via electrical cabling or an electrical connector interface. For example, connection terminal 48 may be electrically coupled to another connection terminal 49 that extends out of a front side of battery module enclosure 4 for engagement with another reciprocal connection terminal within ONT enclosure 14, which connects terminal 48 to appropriate ONT circuitry, such as appropriate power rails and/or power conditioning circuitry.

Connection terminal 42 of battery module 6 is plugged into reciprocal connection terminal 48 within battery module enclosure 4, thereby connecting the ONT circuitry housed within an ONT enclosure to battery module 6. As a result, battery module 6 may provide back up battery power to ONT circuitry during a power outage to maintain critical services such as voice services. In some embodiments, battery module 6 also may receive battery charging power from ONT enclsoure 14 via connection terminals 42, 48, 49. Although connection terminals 42, 48, 49 may be desirable for convenient installation, in other embodiments, electrical connections between battery module 6 and ONT enclosure 14 may be made via wires or cables.

Also shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B is a slotted mounting top mounting bracket 74 and lateral mounting brackets 72A, 72B, which be used to securely mount battery module enclosure 4 to a mounting surface 16 associated with a subscriber premises, e.g., using screws, bolts or the like, which pass through slots or holes in the brackets.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view illustrating an ONT 2 that includes a battery module enclosure 4 which receives a battery module 6 and an ONT enclosure 14 that includes ONT circuitry and network and subscriber terminals. ONT enclosure 14, as shown in FIG. 5, is substantially closed to protect ONT circuitry, network terminals, and subscriber terminals, from environmental and security threats. FIG. 6 is a front perspective view illustrating active NID 2 and, more particularly, ONT enclosure 14 including covers 54, 55, 56 that protect ONT circuitry, network terminals 88A and 88B, subscriber terminals 86A and 86B from environmental and security threats. FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of ONT 2, illustrating a rear surface of ONT enclosure 14 mounted adjacent a front surface of battery module enclosure 4.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 further illustrate mounting hardware associated with ONT enclosure 14, including top mounting brackets 77A, 77B mounted on ONT enclosure 14. Top mounting brackets 77A, 77B define slots or holes to receive screws, bolts or the like to fasten ONT enclosure 14 to a surface 16 of the subscriber premises. ONT enclosure 14 further includes lateral mounting brackets 79A, 79B which also defines slots or holes to receive screws, bolts or the like to fasten ONT enclosure 14 to surface 16. Notably, because battery module enclosure 4 resides between the rear surface of ONT enclosure 14 and surface 16, brackets 77, 79 may have a length that extends well beyond the rear surface of the ONT enclosure. In particular, the brackets 77, 79 may have a length approximately equal to a depth of battery module enclosure 4 so that the brackets are capable of reaching surface 16 with the battery module enclosure disposed between the ONT enclosure 14 and the surface. Also shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 are mounting bracket 74 and lateral mounting brackets 72 of battery module enclosure 4, and a latch assembly 81, 82, 95 that may be configured to securely shut an outer cover on ONT enclosure 14, and which may include or receive a locking device in some embodiments.

In general, ONT 2 is suitable for use on a PON that carries voice, video, and data. However, unlike an ONT that houses a battery module and ONT circuitry within a single compartment or ONTs in which a battery is installed in a separate enclosure either next to an ONT enclosure or mounted within a subscriber premises, battery module enclosure 4 is positioned behind ONT enclosure 14. In particular, battery module enclosure 4 is positioned between an exterior wall of a subscriber premises and ONT enclosure 14 so that battery module enclosure 4 is generally hidden from view by ONT enclosure 14. Further, battery module 6 may be formed by one or more slim profile batteries and a slim battery charger circuit board so that battery module enclosure 4 can be made relatively thin.

For example, battery module enclosure 4 may be sized to accommodate slim batteries, e.g., less than approximately one inch (2.54 cm) in thickness, making battery module enclosure 4 substantially unnoticeable from the front of ONT 2. Consequently, the size of ONT enclosure 14 and, thus, the overall size of ONT 2 is reduced thereby further reducing the visibility of ONT 2. As an example, ONT enclosure 14 may be fabricated from a polycarbonate material and have dimensions of approximately 9 inches in width, 12 inches height, and 4 inches in depth. In general, however, the size of ONT enclosure 14 may be adjusted to account for the size of battery module 6 which depends on the type of battery used.

Battery module 6 may be installed within battery module enclosure 60 from the top (as shown in FIG. 5), either side, or bottom depending on the design of battery module enclosure 4. For example, battery module 62 may be inserted in battery module enclosure 60 as illustrated in any of FIGS. 1A, 1B, 3A, 3B, 4A or 4B. As a result, service personnel can readily gain access to battery module 6 via battery module enclosure 4 when battery module 6 needs to be replaced or serviced.

For example, if a battery is desired and battery module enclosure 4 and ONT enclosure 14 are formed separately, battery module enclosure 4 may first be mounted to the subscriber premises. In order to mount battery module enclosure 4 to a subscriber premises, fasteners are inserted through mounting brackets 72, 74, which are fixed to battery module enclosure 60. In particular, screws, bolts, or other fasteners extend through mounting brackets 72, 74 to fasten battery module enclosure 4 to the subscriber premises.

Vertical slotted mounting bracket 74 extends from an upper surface of battery module enclosure 4 and permits selective placement of fastener at different vertical positions along its slot to fasten battery module enclosure 4 to the subscriber premises more easily. For example, vertical mounting bracket 74 may be particularly advantageous when mounting to a brick surface because the size of bricks and the thickness of grout separating bricks is typically not uniform and, therefore, fixed mounting points are generally undesirable for these and similar surfaces. Accordingly, the position of the fastener inserted through vertical slotted mounting bracket 74 may be adjusted so that it may be inserted into the grout of the subscriber premises rather than the brick, which can be more difficult. Similar slotted arrangements can be provided for mounting brackets 72, 77, 79. The structure of mounting brackets 72, 74, 77, 79 are merely exemplary and should not be considered limiting.

In turn, ONT enclosure 14 may be mounted to surface 16 of the subscriber premises and/or to battery module enclosure 4. For example, brackets 77, 79 may be mounted to surface 16 of the subscriber premises, or an alternative bracket or connecting structure may be provided to mount ONT enclosure 14 directly to battery module enclosure 4, which is already mounted to surface 16 of the subscriber premises. In this latter case, battery module enclosure 4 may support and bears the weight of ONT enclosure 14. This approach may eliminate the need to drill new holes into the subscriber's premises when mounting ONT enclosure 14 to battery module enclosure 4. As described herein, however, ONT enclosure 14 may also be mounted to surface 16 of the subscriber premises or both the surface 16 of the subscriber premises and battery module enclosure 4.

As an example, ONT enclosure 14 may be mounted both to surface 16 and to battery module enclosure 4, and may include additional mounting brackets through which fasteners can be inserted to secure ONT enclosure 14 to the subscriber premises, battery module enclosure 4, or both. The additional mounting brackets may provide extra support and reduce the load on the fasteners that secure battery module enclosure 4 to the subscriber premises. Alternatively, battery module enclosure 4 and ONT enclosure 14 may be constructed in a manner that allows battery module enclosure 4 and ONT enclosure 14 to simply snap together. For example, the front surface of battery module enclosure 4 and the rear surface of ONT enclosure 14 may interface with each other, and may include snap-fit components or other hardware, such as clips or rails, that enable the enclosures to mechanically interface with each other.

If a battery is not desired and battery module enclosure 4 and ONT enclosure 14 are formed separately, the installer may mount only ONT enclosure 14 to surface 16 of the subscriber premises. In this case, the technician may adjust mounting brackets 77, 79 for mounting to surface 16 without the intervening battery module enclosure 4, or select different mounting brackets. In some embodiments, mounting brackets 77, 79 may include slots that permit adjustment of the length of the brackets that extends beyond the rear surface of ONT enclosure 14. For example, the slots may receive a screw of other fastening device to lock the brackets at a position such that the length of the brackets extending beyond the rear surface of ONT enclosure 14 is approximately equal to the depth of battery module enclosure 4, or such that the brackets do not extend beyond the rear surface of the ONT enclosure 14, permitting flush mounting of the ONT enclosure to surface 16.

In the first instance, the brackets 77, 79 are positioned to accommodate an intervening battery module enclosure 4 between ONT enclosure 14 and surface 16. In the latter instance, the brackets 77, 79 are positioned so that the rear surface ONT enclosure 14 is substantially flush mounted to surface 16, with no intervening battery module enclosure 4. An example of an adjustment slot is shown as slot 71 in FIG. 5. Screws 73A, 73B extend into slot 71 and engage selected pairs of screw holes 75 in ONT enclosure 14 to fix bracket 79B in position. Similar arrangements may be provided for bracket 77A, 77B, 79A. Alternatively, as mentioned previously, a technician simply may select, for attachment to ONT enclosure 14, brackets with different lengths according to whether a battery module enclosure 4 will be installed between ONT enclosure 14 and surface 16 or not.

As another example, if battery module enclosure 4 and ONT enclosure 14 are integrally formed, e.g., by injection molded plastic, the integral structure is mounted to the subscriber premises. In this case, however, the service provider still has the option to install battery module 6 within battery module enclosure 4. Thus, ONT 2 allows an installer to install the appropriate configuration on a selective basis.

Additionally, battery module enclosure 4 may be manufactured in different sizes designed to accommodate differently sized battery modules as previously described. Consequently, a service technician may not be required to drill new holes into the subscriber's premises when replacing or upgrading battery module 6. Rather, the service technician may access battery module 6 as previously described, for example, via an access door (FIGS. 4A and 4B), and subsequently remove or “unplug” battery module 6. After battery module 6 has been removed, a new battery module may be inserted or, optionally, battery module enclosure 4 may be left vacant if the subscriber so desires.

ONT enclosure 14 may comprise a typical or commonly used active NID enclosure. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, ONT enclosure 14 includes an inner electronics cover 54, an intermediate security cover 55, and an outer access cover 56 that serve to protect the ONT circuitry within electronics cover 54, network terminals 88A and 88B, and subscriber terminals 86A and 86B from environmental conditions and security threats. ONT circuitry provides an interface between the PON and subscriber equipment (not shown) in a FTTP network. In general, ONT circuitry includes hardware for receiving information in the form of voice, video, and data from the PON via network terminals 88A and 88B (collectively referred to herein as “network terminals 88”) that terminate physical network signal carriers 89A and 89B, respectively, and deliver the information to one or more connected subscriber devices (not shown).

Physical network signal carriers 89A and 89B may comprise an optical fiber or coaxial cable carrying voice, video, and data information, and may be received via conduit 18A. The ONT circuitry may include hardware for receiving and transmitting information, such as an optical receiver and transmitter, as well as processing circuitry for identifying and directing information to and from the appropriate subscriber equipment. In any case, the ONT circuitry may comprise conventional circuitry used in ONTs in existing PON architectures, as is well understood by those skilled in the art, and need not be described in detail.

ONT circuitry may include a power connection terminal, represented by reference numeral 91, for connection with the reciprocal connection terminal 48 (FIGS. 4A and 4B) that receives connection terminal 42 (FIGS. 4A and 4B) of battery module 4 (FIGS. 4A and 4B), e.g., via electrical conductors or via an additional connection terminal 49 as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. For example, power connection terminal 91 may reciprocally engage connection terminal 49 via an aperture in the rear surface of ONT enclosure 14. Alternatively, electrical connections between ONT enclosure and battery module 40 may be made via wires or cables. FIG. 6 further illustrates a set of electrical conductors 93 that extend from power connection terminal 91 to ONT circuitry within electronics cover 54. In general, power connection terminal 91 may convey DC battery power from battery 6 to the ONT circuitry for use when line power is disabled or unavailable. In addition, in some embodiments, power connection terminal 91 may convey AC line power, received via one of conduits 18A, 18B, or DC power generated by AC/DC conversion circuitry to battery module housing 4 for use in charging battery 6.

The ONT circuitry, for example, may serve as a PON access point for one or more computers, network appliances, television, set-top boxes, wireless devices, or the like for video and data services. In addition, the ONT circuitry may be connected to subscriber telephones for delivery of telephone services. Hence, the ONT circuitry may provide video to support television applications, data to support Internet access, and voice to support telephone services. To that end, ONT circuitry delivers information to subscriber devices via subscriber terminals 86A and 86B (collectively referred to herein as “subscriber terminals 86”) which are connected to physical subscriber signal carriers or cables 87A and 87B, respectively, that extend into the subscriber premises for connection to subscriber devices via conduit 18B. For example, the ONT circuitry may send video signals to subscriber equipment via coaxial cable, data via network cables such as Ethernet cable, and telephone signals over twisted pair wire. Carriers 87A, 87B may be received via conduit 18B. In addition, in some embodiments, AC line power may be received via conduit 18B.

In the example of FIG. 6, inner electronics cover 54 may form a housing that contains the ONT circuitry and serves to shield ONT circuitry (not shown) from electromagnetic interference (EMI) as well as environmental conditions while intermediate security cover 55 and outer access cover 56 take the form of doors that swing or slide open to permit access to network terminals 88A and 88B and subscriber terminals 86, respectively. As shown in FIG. 6, covers 55 and 56 take the form of doors that swing outward, e.g., on a hinge. In other embodiments, however, covers 55 and 56 may be slidable or otherwise movable to permit access to network terminals 88 and subscriber terminals 86, respectively.

Covers 55 and 56 may be independently opened to permit access by either a technician or a subscriber, respectively. In this sense, covers 55 and 56 define demarcation points between the respective connections accessible by the technician and subscriber. In particular, intermediate security cover 55 encloses ONT circuitry and inner electronics cover 54 as well as network terminals 88. Cover 56 may include a latch 82 to engage with latch 95, mounted on ONT enclosure 14, and thereby protect the ONT enclosure against unauthorized entry. In addition, a security latch 82 may be provided to lock cover 55. Security latch 82 may take a variety of forms, including a keyed barrel lock or padlocked bracket and, thus, may be accessible only by a service technician. Outer access cover 56 allows the subscriber to access connections such as telephone lines, video lines, and data lines so that network terminals 88 can be disconnected from all wiring inside the premises of the subscriber. In this way, the subscriber can test an outside line, e.g. a phone line, by plugging in a modular phone so that problems can be diagnosed with the network wiring or with wiring inside the premises. Additionally, outer access cover 56, when closed, provides ONT enclosure 52 protection from adverse effects such as solar loading, moisture, debris, animals, and other adverse affects. Accordingly, ONT enclosure 52 may be fabricated from a moldable plastic or any material that provides similar protection.

FIG. 8 is another perspective view illustrating an alternative embodiment of the active NID of FIG. 5. FIG. 8 shows a rear surface of ONT enclosure 14 and a front surface of battery module enclosure 4. In the example of FIG. 8, the rear surface of ONT enclosure 14 defines a recessed area 100 designed to receive the front surface of battery module enclosure 4. ONT enclosure 14 may, for example, be fabricated from a Polycarbonate material and have dimensions of approximately 9 inches in width, 12 inches in height, and 4 inches in depth..

The recessed area 100 may be sized to be slightly larger than the height and width dimensions of battery module enclosure 4, and may have a depth on the order of 1 to 2.5 inches in order to accommodate different types of batteries, e.g., a standard 7.2 Ah battery or a low profile 7.2 Ah battery. An aperture 102 is defined by the rear surface of ONT enclosure 14. Aperture 102 is sized to receive connection terminal 49, which protrudes from battery module enclosure 4. Aperture 102 resides within recessed area 100 within the example of FIG. 8. However, aperture 102 may be provided in embodiments without recessed area 100.

Following mounting of battery module enclosure 4 on surface 16 of the subscriber premises, ONT enclosure 14 is placed over battery module enclosure 4 and mounted to surface 16, such that battery module enclosure 4 resides between ONT enclosure 14 and surface 16. In the example of FIG. 8, battery module enclosure 4 is received within recessed area 100, which helps to guide the placement of ONT enclosure 14 relative to battery module enclosure 4. Other guiding structures may be used, however, such as rails, markings or the like. Upon placement of ONT enclosure 14 over battery module enclosure 4, connection terminal 49 of battery module enclosure 4 plugs into connection terminal 91 (FIG. 6) via aperture 102.

In this example, connection terminal 49 is male connector and connection terminal 91 is a female connector mounted in alignment with aperture 102. Battery module enclosure 4 and ONT enclosure 14 may be configured in an opposite manner, however, such that a male connector 91 protrudes from ONT enclosure 14 and plugs into a female connector 49 of battery module enclosure 4. In either case, ONT enclosure 14 and battery module enclosure 4 may include appropriate seals or gaskets in the vicinity of aperture 102 to protect the connection from environmental conditions. Again, the male-female plug-in arrangement illustrated by FIG. 8 may be applicable whether ONT enclosure 14 includes a recessed area 100 or not.

Various embodiments of the invention have been described. These and other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. 

1. An active network interface device (NID) comprising: a NID enclosure that encloses NID circuitry; and a battery module enclosure that defines a compartment that receives a battery module that provides backup power to the NID circuitry, wherein the NID is mountable to a surface of a subscriber premises such that the battery module enclosure is positioned between the NID enclosure and the surface.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the battery module enclosure includes a first mounting structure to mount the battery module enclosure to the surface, and wherein the NID enclosure includes a second mounting structure to mount the NID enclosure to the surface.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the second mounting structure is configured such that the NID enclosure is mountable to the surface with the NID enclosure positioned between the NID enclosure and the surface.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the NID includes an optical network terminal (ONT) for a passive optical network (PON).
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the battery module comprises a battery to supply backup battery power to the NID circuitry and a battery charger to charge the battery.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the battery module enclosure is shaped substantially as a rectangular prism and is substantially closed on five sides and at least partially open on a sixth side to permit the battery module enclosure to receive the battery module in the compartment.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the battery module enclosure receives the battery module from one of a top, bottom, or lateral side of the battery module enclosure.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the battery module includes an electrical connection terminal and the battery module enclosure includes a reciprocal electrical connection terminal to receive the connection terminal, the battery module providing backup power to the NID circuitry via the connection terminal and the reciprocal connection terminal
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the battery module enclosure includes an electrical connection terminal and the NID enclosure includes a reciprocal electrical connection terminal to receive the connection terminal, the battery module providing backup power to the NID circuitry via the connection terminal and the reciprocal connection terminal.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein one of the connection terminal and the reciprocal connection terminal plugs into the other upon placement of the NID enclosure over the battery module enclosure.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein the NID enclosure defines a recessed area to accommodate at least a portion of the battery module enclosure upon placement of the NID enclosure over the battery module enclosure.
 12. The device of claim 1, wherein the NID circuitry includes circuitry to convert information received from a network terminal to telephone, video and data services for transmission to a subscriber device via a subscriber terminal.
 13. A method comprising: mounting a battery module enclosure to a surface of a subscriber premises, the battery module enclosure defining a compartment that receives a battery module; and mounting an active network interface device (NID) enclosure over the battery module enclosure, such that the battery module enclosure is positioned between the surface of the subscriber premises and the NID enclosure, wherein the NID enclosure contains NID circuitry.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the battery module enclosure includes a first mounting structure to mount the battery module enclosure to the surface, and wherein the NID enclosure includes a second mounting structure to mount the NID enclosure to the surface.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the second mounting structure is configured such that the NID enclosure is mountable to the surface with the NID enclosure positioned between the NID enclosure and the surface.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the NID includes an optical network terminal (ONT) for a passive optical network (PON).
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the battery module comprises a battery to supply backup battery power to the NID circuitry and a battery charger to charge the battery.
 18. The method of claim 13, wherein the battery module enclosure is shaped substantially as a rectangular prism and is substantially closed on five sides and at least partially open on a sixth side to permit the battery module enclosure to receive the battery module in the compartment.
 19. The method of claim 13, wherein the battery module enclosure receives the battery module from one of a top, bottom, or lateral side of the battery module enclosure.
 20. The method of claim 13, wherein the battery module includes an electrical connection terminal and the battery module enclosure includes a reciprocal electrical connection terminal to receive the connection terminal, the battery module providing backup power to the NID circuitry via the connection terminal and the reciprocal connection terminal, and the method further comprises engaging the connection terminal with the reciprocal connection terminal upon insertion of the battery module into the battery module enclosure.
 21. The method of claim 13, wherein the battery module enclosure includes an electrical connection terminal and the NID enclosure includes a reciprocal electrical connection terminal to receive the connection terminal, the battery module providing backup power to the NID circuitry via the connection terminal and the reciprocal connection terminal, and the method further comprises engaging the connection terminal with the reciprocal connection terminal upon placement of the NID enclosure over the battery module enclosure.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein one of the connection terminal and the reciprocal connection terminal plugs into the other upon placement of the NID enclosure over the battery module enclosure.
 23. The method of claim 13, wherein the NID enclosure defines a recessed area to accommodate at least a portion of the battery module enclosure upon placement of the NID enclosure over the battery module enclosure, the method further comprising aligning the NID enclosure to receive the portion of the battery module enclosure within the recessed area.
 24. The method of claim 13, wherein the NID circuitry includes circuitry to convert information received from a network terminal to telephone, video and data services for transmission to a subscriber device via a subscriber terminal. 